In 1932 the name of the race changed to the Chas Egan Menzies Classic Memorial race to commemorate the event's well respected committee member Charlie Egan, who died just days before the race was due to start.

Three years ago the road race had a second leg - Golden Wheels - added, to incorporate the Leonora Gift and was renamed the Goldfields Cyclassic.

Now the riders leave Kalgoorlie on Saturday of the June long weekend and make their way 132km north to Menzies, before heading 103km to Leonora on the Sunday.

They arrive to thousands of people in Leonora for the Golden Gift.

A race for all riders

This year a total of 182 riders took part, the most ever since the race was expanded to incorporate the Leonora leg.

A-grade Melbourne cyclist Alex Smyth was the overall Cyclassic winner after clocking a record time in the Saturday leg from Kalgoorlie to Menzies and edging out four other riders in a sprint to the finish line on Sunday.

But it was D-grade that was the first to cross the finish line on the Saturday.

The staggered start times make for a competitive finish amongst cyclists of all experience according to event director Rob Northcoat.

"It's one of very few handicap cycle races where you can get a really good mix of riders in there, the amateur riders are catered for and they can compete with everyone else, so in that regard I think it's pretty special," Mr Northcoat said.

"The race significant in the amount of time it's gone on and also it's significant in I guess a lot of the riders and cyclists it has attracted over the years."

A mind game

Mr Northcoat has competed in four Menzies Classics (day one of what is now the Cyclassic) in his time.

He said mental strength was as important as physical strength to keep a bike in motion for over 100km.

"You've got to have the basic core fitness to do it but then you also need mental strength, riding with a group and riding competitively is different because it's easier to ride with a group rotating and rolling through, taking turns riding at the front- that saves a lot of energy."

If you think boredom might set in over the kilometres there are four sprints between Kalgoorlie and Menzies, and a further three between Menzies and Leonora to keep things interesting.

"Riders can pick up a sprinters jersey as well as a cash prize, so that sort of keeps things alive and kicking and keeps people focussed on the job ahead.

"The sprints are not dissimilar to a lot of European road races like the Tour de France and so on."

While the finish line may not resemble the grandeur of the Champs Elysees in Paris, Mr Northcoat said support was strong upon arriving in Leonora.

"(There is) a couple of thousand people in the street it's pretty awesome riding in there at that time of the day, it's very good and there's a great deal of support.

"Our thanks goes to all the volunteers who help us on the day, they do a fantastic job as well as all our sponsors, supporters and local governments, that's huge and it wouldn't come together without their support."